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Scrap Buster Fall Pillow

October 22, 2009

This is my favorite thing to do with my little scraps, and since its Scrap Buster month over at Sew, Mama, Sew, I made a quick tutorial so you can make your own. This pillow cover is 16″ square with an envelope back & the design possibilities are endless! I added some pillows I’ve previously made with this same method at the end of this post. Happy Sewing!

You’ll Need:

1. Scraps, enough for the tree trunk and the leaves. Cutting your scraps into rectangles will make it easier to adhere them to the appliqué material.

2. Appliqué material: I use Heat’ n Bond. You’ll need about 1/2 yard or more depending on how many leaves you want to make.

3. Material for the pillow front, cut to 17″ x 17″ square. I used lightweight canvas and prefer home weight material, but you could use anything.

Iron your fabric scraps onto your appliqué material according to the directions on the appliqué material. (press & hold the iron over each scrap for a few seconds, I use a very hot iron and find the appliqué material sticks better)

Now with scissors cut out your trunk and leaf shapes. For the trunk I first draw the shape of the trunk on the back of the appliqué material so I get a nice shape, but for the leaves I just free cut as I go. And for reference the trunk on mine is 8″ tall, and my leaves are all about 2.5″ long and are 1.5″ or so wide.

When you get all your leaves cut out, tear the backing appliqué paper off the leaves and trunk. I prefer to do this while plopped down in front of the TV cause it takes awhile. 🙂 Or better yet enlist some help.

Then you can arrange them how you want on your pillow front. Don’t place any within an 1.5″ of the edges to leave room for sewing.

Once your design is how you like it, press with an iron over each spot for a few seconds making sure not to bump anything out of place. This will keep everything in place while you sew them on.

Now you can sew either along the inside edges of your leaves, or you can do a zig zag stitch or blanket stitch around the edges if you prefer. I move my foot from leaf to leaf without cutting my strings so it goes faster, then go back and cut my strings at the end.

To prepare your pillow back, fold one of the short edges of each pillow backing piece in 1/2″ and press, then again 1/2″ and press and sew to hide any raw edges. These will be the edges of the envelope back.

Lay the backing pieces right sides down onto the pillow front over lapping the centers. I placed the smaller backing piece ( 10″ x 17″) down first on the pillow front, but I actually prefer to lay the larger pieces down first since it makes the cover easier to slip on. Either way, make sure your right sides are facing towards the right sides of your pillow front and your outer edges match.

Pin around the edges well. Sew with a 1/4″ inseam around the edges, backstitch over the envelope openings for extra strength. After the initial sewing I go around the edges with a serger, pinking shears or a quick zig zag stitch. Its especially important if you are using home weight fabric which tends to fray easily. Then clip your extra corner fabric off so the corners will turn nicely.

Then turn it inside out and stuff a 16″ pillow form in it.

Here are some pillow covers I previously made if you want more ideas and to see how it looks with the zig zag stitch around the pieces.

Ohhh, this is so cool! I love your pillows and thank you so much for the tutorial! I think I might make one of these to match my daughter's quilt (from the Red Barn Quilt Along this summer)!Can you tell me roughly how BIG your tree and leaves are?? I have no clue where to start on size.

Very cute! What a great Christmas gift this would make. I would love to see a tutorial or even just a link on that adorable strip table runner you posted a few months ago. I looked all over the internet and could not find it any where. Just an idea!lyndsey

Whoa… I'm blown away by the amount of beautiful handmade creations and tutorials there are here. WOW! I just clicked over from Sew, Mama, Sew! and I'm so glad I did. This pillow is wonderful, it's totally going on my gotta-make-it-list. And I would LOVE to link to some of your tutorials on my blog if you didn't mind. They're fantastic!

Ohhh, I really love this idea. I am looking for applique-style designs to cover these Warm Window shades I am making for the cold weather in our home. This one is very nice…thanks for the ideas and inspiration!Abbie

This is awesome! My cousin just sent me this, and lo and behold, she was at anthropologie over the weekend and found a pillow for sale that looks just like the flower version you made! we are so excited to try this pattern out!

Thank you for the tutorial. I love it. I was wondering how the pillows hold up in the wash (and more importantly in the dryer). Do you have problems with the adhesive coming apart if the dryer is too hot?

Thanks so much for a great web project. I am just getting back into sewing so this cushion is perfect. I have made one and intend to make 3 more with Spring, Summer, Autumn & Winter theme. The winter one I thought I would do colder colours like light blue and put the leaves at the base of the tree. PS Congratulations on the safe arrival of Ryan – we are due to be grandparents before we are 50, in the summer! So loads of projects to have a go at for our expected Granddaughter. Crafy Jenn – Plymouth, England, UK

Hello, I have a blog that aims to identify all the tutorials that can be found on blogs. I put a link to your blog (and not the explanation) but I let you put your pictures? thank you and congratulations for your blog marjorie http://tutoriels-loisirs-creatifs.over-blog.com

Hello! Sorry to hear you have a kidney infection! Hope you recover quickly! I just wanted to send you a link to my post on a pillow I made using this tutorial and also to let you know that I linked back to you! Love your blog! Your quilts are amazing!http://www.janeofallcrafts.com/2010/09/janey-bird-pillow.html

Thank you for sharing and having such cute ideas! I made a fall pillow (turned out pretty great) and borrowed your idea for the abstract flower when I made an ipad cover (and added a few green leaves). I smile every time I look at it!

hi there, thank you so much for an absolutley beautiful design! I found this on Pinterest originally (couldn't link to you via there unfortunately), and have posted about this and a version I created too. I have used your photo in my post and a link back to you (- please let me know if you'd like this pic removed)Thanks again

This just made my day! My young daughter found a box in which I had stored an ao dai (traditional dress from Vietnam) that my father had made for me when he was stationed there during the Vietnam war. I was so sad that the dress had been ruined and was looking for a project to do with the remainder of the fabric, which just happens to be orange, green and yellow.

Thank you so much for the sprocket pillow instructions and template. I had 2 pair of pajama pants that my daughter wore when she was 4yrs old. She is now 27yrs old and expecting her first child. I took the pajama pants and cut them up to make her a sprocket pillow that I will give her for Christmas. Can't wait for her to see it. I know it will be special.

I have made two of these pillows from your tutorial and must say they are fun, easy, and very gratifying! You are an angel for sharing these wonderful ideas and instructions with the world. Thank you for the beautiful inspiration and giving this stay-at-home mama concrete reasons for carving out some sweet ME-time. Going to try sprocket pillows later today!

i have made one of these cushions and i LOVE it! everyone always comments on it. I hand stitched all the details because i dont have great control on my Beast of a sewing machine yet and was worried of messing it up but I love it even more for having done it all by hand. its such a simple tutorial and yet it looks so effective. Great for showing off :)) Thank you so much for sharing xx

Thanks so much for this tutorial! I just finished making one, but instead of different fabrics for the leaves I printed out family pictures on fabric. It's a gift for my mom's 60th birthday and she's sure to love it! Thanks again!

We love this idea! My fiance and I are going to cut out leaves and allow for our guests to sign them at our wedding reception. We will then make the pillow out of said leaves for a lovely alternative to a guest book.

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